(1239) Galerida cristata leautungensis.
The Tibet Chested Lark.
Alauda leautungensis Swinh., Ibis, 1861, p. 256 (Leautung, W. China).
Vernacular names. None recorded.
Description. Very similar to Franklin's Crested Lark but rather darker and more rufous above and below.
Colours of soft parts as in the other races.
Measurements. Wing 96 to 105 mm.; culmen about 13 to 14 mm.
Distribution. Tibet, the mountains of North-West China to N.E. Chihli. It does not appear to be found in Ladakh or Western Tibet.
Nidification. La Touche found this Crested Lark breeding in North-East Chihli; it certainly breeds in Kansu and Setchuan and is very abundant in South Tibet. In this latter country it breeds between 12,000 and 14,000 feet on the barer and more stony plateaus, making a nest and laying eggs which are indistinguishable from those of G. e. magna. Forty eggs average 22.4 x 16.6 mm.: maxima 24.2 x 15.9 and 23.2 x l7.7 mm.; minima 21.0 x 16.0 and 22.0 x 15.3 mm.
The breeding-season is rather protracted and I have eggs taken from the 3rd of May (Shanhaikuan) to the 1st of August (Gyantse, Tibet).
Habits. Those of the species. This form is very doubtfully migratory : I obtained individual specimens in Cachar and Sylhet and Coltart obtained one in Lakhimpur, all in January, whilst La Touche also obtained a couple of specimens one winter in the foothills of North-East Chihli. It doubtless moves vertically with the seasons but possibly not to any great degree.
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